Halloween: Spiders, Ravens & Costumes

Using the Chillingsworth Manor line, a piece of Authentique Spooked and some black cardstock,  I created a fun one-page layout to include a fun picture Hall`oween picture with one pregnant women and two pretenders.  For the background, I put an 11” square piece of Chillingsworth Manor Spider Web Polka Dots on a piece of Authentique spooked. 

I framed my main photo in a circle of black cardstock and a slightly larger circle of Orange Floral Damask.  I made a photo frame from black cardstock, but cutting a circle out of the center, rounding the corners and adding a little scallop strip on the top.  I added a Orange Floral Damask circle between the photo frame and the bottom strip.

A strip of black cardstock is added on the bottom.  A 3 ½” x 11” strip of Damask Stripe affixing just on three sides with WonderTape to form a pocket for a journaling tag.

For the two spiders on paper, I traced over the legs on the paper with an embossing pen.  I then embossed them with Zing Black Embossing Powder.  After the legs cooled, I made the spiders body with two rhinestone-type embellishments of two different sizes.  I made a 3^rd on a scallop circle except I drew the legs rather than tracing and I glued a piece of black memory thread before affixing the body.  After gluing the circle I attached the other end of the memory thread to the top of the photo mat.  I added a “Best Costume” sticker and a little ribbon over the top. 

For the journaling tag and the decorative label, I cut out labels from the Apothecary label section and added ribbon.   

I added a  few little strips of different paper and varying sizes on the side.

The year was added on a little lable cut with a Tim Holtz Movers and Shapers Styled Label die cut and accented with stickers from the Alpha Stickers sheet.  The stickers on here are great and you can use them for a variety of projects.

The title was made with Tim Holtz Alpha Parts Newsprint letters.

I hope this gives you some ideas of the wonderful things you can do with these great papers!

Halloween Card

Since most people email these days, people really love it when they get something in the mail.  And it is even better when it is a handmade card!  Once I have the idea, making a card is a snap.   So use this one or take a look at the Design Team Wall for lots of other ideas.  The instructions to make this card follow.

Cut a 9“x 6 ¼” piece of Authentique Glowing paper and score it to make a 4 ½” x 6 ¼” card. 

Stamp three images on Chillingsworth Orange/Tan  paper with Stazon black ink.  I used  Stampers Anonymous Tm Holtz Stamps Mini Blueprints CMS 136.  This is a great set that has four images for each Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Cut out the stamped images and ink edges with Spiced Marmalade Distress Ink. Affix these to black cardstock that is just slightly larger than the piece with stamped image.  Affix two of the images to the outside of the  card with pop dots and one to the inside top (not with pop dots).

Add  a 1 5/8” x 6 ¼” strip of Authentique Glowing paper (Herringbone side) on bottom of card.  Stamp message on a strip of Orange/Tan paper with VersaMark and  emboss message with Zing Black Embossing Powder. Affix to top of  Herringbone strip.  Affix ribbon to the top edge of strip.

On the inside, add a rectangle of Orange/Tan piece, inked with Spiced Marmalade & Black Soot Distress Ink so  you have a place to write a message.

Affix ribbon across inside along fold line and on outside.   Tie bow on left side

Scrap Folders for Special Events

Not enough time to scrapbook all the pictures you want.  Scrap Folders may be jsut what you need.  I was excited to try this  new technique that I'd been reading about.  They are a lot like Scrapbooks except instead of many pages for a single event, you make a folder per event and include lots of places to store extra pictures and memorabilia.  I chose to make my first attempt with the Basic Grey Clippings line and pictures from last year’s family reunion.  I think it turned out pretty well.  And in addition, to what you see in the pictures, I have a photo album in a pocket, two files for extra stuff and a CD with all the pictures in a pocket. 

You start with a basic file folder -- like the ones you use for normal filing.  You can use one and decorate both sides.  I used two to make it a little sturdier and to allow me to use brads. (Although I didn’t end up using any.) When you use two, you make one the inside and one the outside and then glue together. 

I figured out how I wanted the inside of the folder to look and that I wanted two pockets – one for a photo CD and one to hold a small photo album and extra memorabilia.  When I had this figured out, I cut out the pieces of paper to fit the folders.  It is not necessary to do this exactly as you can trim afer gluing down.   On the bottom left side, I used two pieces of Novella, so that the pocket totally blends into the page.  For the right pocket (for a photo CD)  I cut out a design out of the Flannel Suit paper and turned it upside down. I stitched the two pockets to the paper..  (If you’re not into sewing, it would work just as well to attach the paper forming the pocket with RedScor Tape or other strong tape.)  Before covering the sides, I put a strip down the center with crease where needed for folder to fold.  Then I put the paper (with pockets on each side) and affixed a strip along the right edge.  I affixed all of these with a glue stick and a brayer.   I needed to trim some of the edges a little.  Also, I inked various pieces and edges of file folders with Fired Brick, Vintage Photo and Peeled Paint Distress Ink.

The  “Generations” you see in the photo is a small hoto album.  (I’ll blog on how to make it on the 14^th.)  I used a large letter “K” to represent the family name.   I love these letters and you  get them in a few different colors at ScrapbooksPlus.  They add a lot and are very inexpensive.    

I used a variety of Clippings items to decorate the inside, the outside and the photo album, including Sticker Titles, Stickers Elements, Printed Chipboard and Alphas, and Garland.  Just get a pack of each and you’ll have plenty of embellishments for a few files.  (I cut the “2011” from the Typewriter paper with a small circle punch.)  I added a picture and mat to the plain black box on the CD pocket and using those great Clippings Alpha letters I added title.  The banner at the top is held on with Tim Holtz Muse Tokens.  

Then I covered the outside of the other folder using Gazette and Typewriter.   I knew from the beginning that I wanted to spell something with the letters from the 5^th Avenue paper.  So I spelled “Family.” To make the letters a little more interesting.  After distressing the edges of each letter, I embossed the edges with Stampendous Aged Taupe Embossing Powder.   I “inked” the edges with VersaMark.  Like with inking I didn’t make it even, I simply rubbed the edges with the VersaMarc so it is thicker in some places than others.  I then sprinkled the edges with the embossing powder and heat embossed.  This embossing powder includes a variety of granules so it can create interesting textures.   (I just learned that with this embossing powder it is better if you heat from the bottom.   I just heated from the top as usual.  Try it both ways and see which you like best. ) I also used it to emboss the word “Photographs” on the cover.  I added a picture and some strips along the bottom.  To make it sturdier, I covered the outside with a couple of coats of Modge Podge. Then I added two large Tim Holtz Word Keys.  (Note: Because of the shape of folders, I used you see a good portion of the inside right across the top of the top when closed.)   

Once the outside and inside were done,  I fastened the two folders together along the outer edges.  As a result I have two large areas to store memorabilia, etc. I made two smaller file folders made from Drafting Table paper and the tabs from the Tim Holtz Sizzix On the Edge Folders to keep some additional photos or memorabilia.  You can see tabs in the photo. 

This is one of the most fun projects, I’ve done in a while.  I encourage you to try to make a Scrap Folder for some of your precious memories. 

Rat Pack Themed Layout

I love it when I can design layouts the reflect the essence of my pictures.  Although it wasn't mmediately obvious when I saw the Basic Grey Clippings line, upon review I discovered that the grey herringbone and red houndstooth paper worked well to create a perfect layout for pictures from a Rat Pack-themed party at a famous nightclub in San Fran.

Here’s how to make this page.  Start with a background of Novella.  Add a 5” x 12” piece of Handmade Quilt on the top.  Affix a strip of shiny black ribbon (available at ScrapbooksPlus) where the papers meet.

Cut 6 ¼ ” X 10 ¼ ” piece of white cardstock; print or write message in right bottom corner.  Add two  4” x 6” pictures (one horizontal and one vertical).

To make the sign and the flourish, you use one of my favorite techniques.  Using the Tim Holtz Sizzix Hanging Sign Die cut sign hangar from chipboard.  Cover hangar with VersaMark by pressing into VersaMark pad, emboss with Zing black embossing powder.  The texture created is wonderful.  Put eyelets in holes.  The flourish was cut with the Tim Holtz Mover & Shapers Mini Flourish die.  To make the sign, glue a 5” x 3” piece of Novella to a piece of chipboard. (For this purpose I use a glue stick and even out with brayer.  Because of how you are cutting you need every bit of the paper glued to the chipboard and this is a great way to do it.)  Cut out sign using same die as you used for hangar. Put eyelets in holes.  Affix sign to hangar using Tim Holtz Jump Rings or Clasp Clips.

Put title on sign using alphabet from Printed Chipboard & Alpha Set.  I love this set of alpha for several reasons.  A couple are that they give you lots of letters and even have a apostrophe’s. 

In bottom right and left corners, embellish with  Clippings Brads and Wooden Buttons.  I put Memory Thread in the holes of the buttons.   This set of brads gives you lots of options and the buttons are really fun.

Bon Voyabe Card

The travel theme of this line make it perfect for a Bon Voyage card. 

I stared with a card base from Luggage (blue herringbone).  I used the Carte Postale and Traveler card from Voyage to decorate the front and inside of the card. (I chose the Traveler for the inside as it provided space for writing.  I affixed a border from  Check In Boarder Sticker sheet along the bottom and used letters to spell “Bon Voyage.” 

I cut out three tags from 6” x 6” paper pad.  (I love these smaller versions of the designs from the 12” paper and this one is extra special.  In addition to the smaller designed paper, you get some extra boarders and tags.  It is definitely worth the investment.  These tags are a perfect example.)  I added a white eyelet to each tag.  You could just leave it like this or you could handwrite in some pertinent information for the trip people are going on that you are giving the card to.  I decide I wanted to jazz it up a bit so I stamped a small travel design on each  tag with VersaMark and embossed with Zing Black Embossing powder.   A little light blue and white twine through the eyelets was the final touch.  Add stripe of red & white cut from stripe at bottom of sheet of paper on the bottom of inside.

A Snowy Valentine's Day Card

I really wanted to make a Valentine’s Day card this month but when I saw the papers with blues, greens and browns, it appeared that this was not going to work.  Then I saw one of the Cardstock Stickers in the set  said “I’d Melt for You.”  Presto I had a Valentine’s Day card idea.    

To make the card, just like I did you cut out two  6 ¼” x 4 ½” pieces of cardstock, score and glue them together so you have the Winter Plaid on the outside and the Snowy Aspen on the inside for writing.  Look carefully before you cut as there are some nice white designs on the plaid that you may want to place on the edge of your card.  Cut a 6 ¼” x 2 ¼” strip of Skate Scratch and put a small a strip of Brown Snowy Scratch cut with a scallop punch on each side.  Affix to the center of the card.      

Stamp a snowman on the Snowy Aspen paper with VersaMark.  I used the Basic Grey Snowman but any stamp would work.   Emboss with Chestnut Zing Embossing Powder and cut out.  Make a hat using the same technique.  Stamp three little hearts with VersaMark and emboss with Barn Door Embossing Powder.   Paint the snowman with Chandalier Glimmer Glam.    (You could also use small heart buttons or cut small hearts from a pretty paper. If you are affixing something to the snowman, paint with Glimmer Glam and then affix objects.)  Draw a face on the snowman with a pen.  Fastened the snowman to the right side of the card with pop dots.  Glue three chocolate hearts in red and silver foil to the left side using Glossy Accents.

Paint the Cardstock Sticker that says “I’d Melt for You” with Chandalier Glimmer Glam.  Stick the sticker on a piece of Brown Snowy Scratch and cut around the edge leaving a small border.  To make the card a little more Valentiney, make the word “Melt” red.  I used Claudine Hellumuth’s dash of red acrylic paint.  The tip on the bottle is so tiny that I was able to fill in the tiny word directly from the bottle.   Affix the Cardstock Sticker to the card.  

Stamp your Valentine’s message inside the card. 

Snowflakes everywhere!

 

I had a great time making this card. I layed out my Design Team paper scraps to create my background for my card and used the beautiful trim to come up with this simple card design.  What makes it special is the textured elements I added.  First, I embossed Tim Holtz Grungboard with a Sizzix snowflake embossing folder, pulled out my mini pinking edging scissors and then inked it to show off the embossing and edge.  I love pulling out these old tools I've had since I started scrapbooking many years ago and using them in fun ways, don't you!?  I punched the tag and used an old stamp from my stash to stamp 'let it snow...'.   The other unique textured element on my card is the chipboard snowflakes.  Here's how I gave them a snowy texture...

I simply covered them with slow-drying pigment ink (or you could use Versamark) by directly rubbing them on my ink pad.  I then covered them heavily with white embossing powder and heated with my heat gun.  I let it cool completely and repeated.  This gave it a thick, textured white surface... just like snow!  Pull out your scrap and stamping tools and have fun!

Dreaming of a White Christmas

Okay, I admit that the child in the picture is too little to be dreaming of a white Christmas, but the colors were perfect for this picture.  With a few simple techniques this picture shimmers like Christmas. 

I started with the Silver Valley paper for background and for the main decorations for the pictures.

I triple matted the 5” x 7” picture using two Snowed In and one Silver Valley (plaid side).  I rounded the corners of all three mats.

Using the technique we all learned in kindergarten, I cut out all  the snowflakes & the small tree from another piece of  Silver Valley. After decorating the tree, I affixed the snowflakes and the tree to the background with pop dots so they standout. 

I make a scallop tag out of white chipboard.  I put the name and year on the tag with silver ink and then used a narrower blue pen to reflect the blues and greys in the paper.  It still looked a little plain, so  I decided to add a little glimmer so  I tried a new technique.  I “inked” the edges of the tag with VersaMark and then embossed it using Zing Silver.  It gave it a little silver without overdoing it.  I affixed it to the page with a snowflake brad.

In addition to the embellishments created from the Silver Valley paper, I used two chipboard snowflakes.  I painted them with white paint and then added a coat of Chandelier Glimmer Glam to make them shimmer.  Another snowflake brad and two stickers saying Winter Wonderland” and “Dreaming of a White Christmas” completed the page. 

A Holiday Thank You Card with Photo for Grandma!

Although this card could be varied to meet many needs, it was designed to be a thank you note for a child’s Christmas gift.  With space for a picture, it can act as a photo frame on a table.  It is made with StargazingC, Caroling and Tomato Velvet paper.  Buttons and twine make attractive closures for the card.    Detailed instructions for making the card follow.

1.     Cut a 6”x 12” strip from Stargazing.  Score vertically at 3” and 9” to form flaps that meet in the middle when folded. 

2.     Decorate the inside first as once you do the outside the surface will not be flat and it will be hard for things to stick.

a.     Center -- Cut a piece of Tomato velvet paper  just slightly larger than your picture as a photo mat.  Mine is 4” x  5 ½.”  I cut little slashes in each corner  to stick the edges of the picture in so it will remain in the card during transit, but remove easily if the recipient wants to put in a frame. Affix  photo mat to the card. Cut 3 stockings (front & back)  out of Tomato velvet paper.  Make three stockings from Tomato Velvet. I used a Cuttlebug die but any stocking will work.  I cut three and then cut three reversed and used two for each stocking so that both sides would be the same.  I cut a top for each stocking out of white paper and applied white flocking powder.   Run twine through a red heart button from Bo Bunny’s Father  Christmas Buttons from the back to the front & then back to the back.  Affix near top left of center piece of card with Glossy Accents.  Hang stockings. (I put knots in between to keep stockings from ending up all on one end.)  Put twine through the other button in the same way.  Affix to card on right side of center piece and trim remaining twine as desired. 

b.     Right Inside Flap – I used an ornament  (3”) cut from Silver Valley with Joys of the Season Cricut Cartridge. Using Detail White embossing powder, emboss the word “Thanks” on top of the ornament.  Tie a strand of red/white twine through hole in ornament.

c.      Left Inside Flap -- Cut a 6 x 3 ¼” piece of tomato velvet .  Fasten it to the left inside starting at the fold line.  It will hang over the edge approximately ¼”.   On the inside left apply  a 2 ¾” x 5 ¾” piece of Caroling.  Add  a gift (2 ½”) cut from Silver Valley with the Cricut Joys of the Season Cartridge.  Cut the ribbon from Tomato velvet.

3.     Left Outside -- Fold in the extra tomato from the inside and fasten firmly.  Add a  2 ¾”  x 2 ½” piece of Tomato velvet  on  the top left.  Add  a just slightly smaller  piece of Caroling. 

4.     Right Outside -- On the right bottom add a 3 ½”  x 2 7/8”  piece of tomato and a slightly smaller piece of Caroling.

5.     Closures -- Use green star buttons from the Bo Bunny’s Father  Christmas Buttons set and red & white twine to close; affix to two flat buttons with glossy accents.  (1^st run thread for bows through.  After dries tie bow & trim.  Affix twine to one of the underneath buttons with glossy accents; affix buttons to card with glossy accents; wrap twine to close. 

A Thank You Card

I used our paper to make a card that is perfect for a thank you to your Thanksgiving hostess.  It is so easy to make.

Cut a piece of Ivory Text paper  5 1/2” x 12” and score at 3” and 9” and fold along score lines.  You will have a card that is 6” on the back and have two 3” flaps.  One flap will be on the top and the other on the bottom. This paper is great for cards  because it has text and colors but is still light enough that you can write your message over it.  I used the Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations On the Edge Brackets die to give the flaps a decorative edge. 

Stamp “thanks” with Walnut Distress Ink on the bottom flap and emboss with Clear Embossing Powder.  Repeat inside the card where the message would go.

Cut two pieces of Golden Flourish 4 ½ ” 6 1/2.” Cut the edges using the other edge of the die.  (The on the edge dies have two possible designs you can cut.)    Glue these two pieces inside the flaps so that the Golden Flourish shows on the outside.  You will need to cut the straight edge of these pieces to make the card so that the top edge doesn’t cover the outside message.

To embellish top flap, I used a corrugated chipboard circle from the Little Yellow Bicycle Hello Fall set of corrugated shapes.  I filed and inked the circle.   I punched an owl out of a circle of Golden Flourish and put inside the chipboard circle.  Both were sprayed with Glimmer Mist marmalade.  I added jewel eyes and two jewels outside the word “Thanks.” You could easily embellish the card with any of the corrugated shapes you like.  The Little Yellow Bicycle Hello Fall Jewels add a little glamour and offers several color options.

Making Holiday Tags with Oxford Paper

I know it is only September but if we are going to hand make things for the holidays now is the time to do it so we have time to enjoy the holidays.   I liked the Oxford paper, but didn’t have any  school related pictures to scrap.  The burgundy and green colors made me think of Christmas so I made extra large tags.  These could be used in several ways --  for those really big boxes that a small tag just doesn’t do the trick, on cards or as decorations.  Another thing I love about making your own tags is that you can mix and match what you have and they all coordinate.

Reindeer

I cut the tag and a cooridinating shadow tag with the Cricut using Oxford paper.   Christmas needs a little shine in my view so I spritzed both the tag and shadow tag with Sun Sisters Glimmer Mist.  I cut a tree and painted it with Dirty Martini Glimmer Glam.   Using plain cardstock I cut out a reindeer and a star for the top of the tree..  I embossed it three times with gold embossing powder.  I added BoBunny Zoology Jewels for eye and collar.  You could also use jewels or buttons to decorate the tree. Tie with a ribbon and you are done.  You could make several of these in no time at all.

Snowman

The approach was similar to the reindeer tag except I used Silver Glimmer Mist on the tag, shadow and the snowman.  I  left the tree plain.  I embossed the snowman’s hat.  The eyes and buttons same from the Bo Bunny Jewel set.  The Bo Bunny Father Christmas buttons would also be great.  There are hearts in the set that would be adorable on a snowman.  Again, add a ribbon and you are done.  Scrapbooks Plus has a great supply of ribbon. 

Since I’m in France now, I may decide to carry the French theme all the way to Christmas and make some holiday tags with the Eiffel Tower!  Another idea is to add a picture of that special person.  That’s the advantage of making your own tags – they can be uniquely yours.

Stars of My Life

This month’s page map gives you lots of options for how to make it your own.    You have 9 squares in the center.  It is up to you whether you use them all for pictures, all for decorations or a combination of pictures and decorations.  My squares included some with pictures, some with embellishments and some words.   My page includes a picture of me with each of my aunts and uncles when I was young.  Since I have only four, that left me five squares to use as accents.   

I used the Oxford Frat House paper for the background.  To bring the focus to the center where the pictures are, I made a large photo mat (10” x 10”) to hold all the pictures and other décor. I printed 3” x 3” pictures and placed them equally on the grid.  I cut 3” x 3” squares from coordinating paper.  In the center square, I placed a subtitle made from letters cut from Oxford Fencing paper. Instead of a square in the upper left, I used a journaling block from Life Documented Flash Cards.  I inked it with Peeled Paint Distress Ink.  All squares were inked with Peeled Paint Distress Ink.  

 I inked ribbon (available atScrapbooksPlus) and Tim Holtz idea-ology trimming lavish flower ribbon with Peeled Paint Distress Stain and used the ribbon to decorate the squares.  If you haven’t tried Distress Stain, you really should.  It is so easy to make items the color you want .  I added a heart stamp and some flowers cut with Tim Holtz Tattered Flowers Sizzix die. 

Since I had some chipboard stars, I titled this page “Stars of My Life.”  (I apologize that the picture makes it difficult to read the title. ) Although it goes with the embellishments, it is also true – my aunts and uncles played a significant role in my life.  They continue to today.) I used  a large chipboard star for the title.  I covered it with Versamark and embossed it with Peeled Paint Distress Powder.  The remainder of the title was made with Pink Paislee Daily Junque wood alphabet.  

This month’s page map is one that  is easy to adjust to the pictures that you want to scrap.  Simply gather the 3” x 3” pictures.  Once you have these selected and placed, pick paper and embellishments for the other squares that reflect the theme.  You can make them frilly and pink for a girly girl, bold and modern for a hip look, fill with sports symbols for the big game, or since it is September you could use a school theme with a back to school picture of each of your kids.   

Decorating A Plastic Box for your Copics

A plain plastic box is a boring place to keep your Copic pens. For this month’s project, I decided to take care of that and decorated my basic Copic box. I used vintage papers and Tim Holtz embellishments and stamps. It was so much fun to make and took only about an hour to complete. It looks great on my shelf. Another great part of this project I used a lot of leftover items. I’ll tell you what I did and you can use this as a starting point for decorating your own plastic box.

I started with paper from the Off the Records line by Echo Park. In some cases, I wrapped strips all around the box; in others I just pasted left over strips to cover spaces. (Since the box is not a perfect rectangle strips don’t go around squarely.) I used some items from the Off the Records border page. I really loved the border the one that provided space for a list. I just kept pasting

scraps on until whole box was covered. On top, I used boxes from the Off the Record
Journaling set. Some of the scraps had edges cut using Tim Holtz Sizzix Brackets Die and some were inked with Distress Inks before gluing to box. You really can use whatever scraps you have.


I added stickers from the Off the Record Sticker Set. This allowed me to use some of the stickers that I really liked that didn’t fit on my pages. Next I pulled out a stack of stamps and stamped wherever I pleased with a variety of stamps using Black Soot and Fired Brick ink. Lots of Tim Holtz stamps seemed perfect since so many deal with art or creativity. I then glued on at least one of every Tim Holtz embellishment I could find (gears, snaps, washers, paperclips). Okay, I did not use hangars, which I adore, or the film strip ribbon. (If found this after I was done or definitely would have added this. I also added a piece of chipboard that I had embossed with Peeled Paint embossing powder.

Once it looked the way, I wanted. I covered it with Modge Podge so that it would last a little better.

For the final look, I glued ribbon around the lip of the bottom section. (Make sure it is dry before you put the lid back on.) I tied a Tim Holtz Muse (coin shaped item with a word on it) to the ribbon and glued it to the top of the box so it hangs over the side to finish the look. I used the “Unique” muse as I think the box is unique.

I really encourage you to decorate a box you have. You’ll have so much fun. If you don’t have a plastic box for your Copics, they are available at Scrapbooks Plus. If you haven’t yet dived into Copics, sign up for a class at Scrapbooks Plus. You’ll learn to use this great new tool. Next class is August 17th. Call (703) 263-9503 to sign up.

A Vintage Patriotic Look

This month’s papers initiated a patriotic feeling so I decided to do my one-page layout using photos from the memorials on the National mall. With the vintage look of the Moxie American Made Hometown Celebration Star Spangled paper as a background, I made a collage of the photos. The only challenge was making the photos fit in the space available. I drew the collage’s intended shape on a plain piece of 12” x 12” cardstock (you can use an old piece you no longer have use for as none of it will show) positioning it on the page as I wanted it on my final page. I cut out the collage shape. I picked the photos I wanted to use and printed most of them wallet size. I did one 3 x 5. I then simply played with the photos and how I wanted to arrange them on the collage. Because I had cut the pattern out of 12 x 12 paper, I could lay the photos down and then put the remainder of the paper (top and bottom) in place and see what part of the pictures would show and what wouldn’t when I cut them to the size of the collage. Once I had an arrangement I liked, I glued the photos down and cut the collage to the shape of the pattern. I glued this to proper place on the background paper.

To set off the collage, I used one of my favorites -- Idea-Ology Film Strip Ribbon. I used paper from Echo Park’s For the Record line behind the ribbon.
I inked the cream side of the Red/Cream paper with Fired Brick Distress Ink a bit to give it more dimension and color. I cut a piece of the film strip a little longer than I would need for top of the collage. I glued this film strip to the cream side of the Red/Cream paper using Glossy Accents. Once dry, I trimmed the paper to the exact edge of the film strip on each side and affixed it to the top edge of the collage using Glossy Accents. (Where I wanted to add a picture above, I only applied Glossy Accents to bottom of film strip.) I repeated this for the bottom of the collage. Once glued in placed I trimmed the excess from both sides of the paper.


To create the stars and flag, I began with chipboard stars. I inked each one with Faded Jeans Distress Ink by placing directly on ink pad and pressing hard. Each was then embossed them with Fired Brick Distress Embossing Powder. I wiped off some of the embossing powder to give the stars a vintage look. I filled the center of the large star with Red/Cream Echo Park paper (after inking it slightly with Fired Brick Distress Ink.) Using a blue pen, I followed the inside of the star to create two stars made with dashed lines.

I created a journaling box out of Echo Park Red/Cream paper and made a designed edge with the Tim Holtz Sizzix Brackets die. I also cut a small star out of Echo Park Red/Cream paper. Both were inked with Fired Brick Distress ink. A blue pen was used for journaling.

Glimmer Mist & Etched Glass Add Variety to Your Page

This page used lots of fun scrapbooking techniques and displays 6 pictures of the City Botanical Garden in Brisbane, Australia. The pictures include green, pink and orange, so the Vicki B papers were perfect.

I picked my 6 best pictures from a day at the City Botanical Garden in Brisbane, Australia and printed small ones (2 ½” x 3 1/4”) pictures. This was really easy in Windows Photo Gallery. I just selected the pictures I wanted to print from the more than 100 I took and chose wallet size pictures. I printed on 8 ½” x 11” photo paper. (Up to 9 wallet sized pictures can be printed on same page.)

I matted the pictures on a piece of Loverly (tan side) leaving a ¼” margin on 3 sides and a ¾” margin on the right side. To make the paper a little more interesting and to complement the pictures and other papers better, I spritzed it with Peach Delight Glimmer Mist. I added a slightly larger (9 ½” x 8 7/8”) mat of Florilicious. This was also Glimmer Misted with the Peach Delight. A border from the sticker set was added to the right side of the mat after spraying. I added a third mat of Bazzillion (brown side) 10” x 9 3/8”.

The flowers on the Florilicious paper are gorgeous so I cut some of them out to use as embellishments. After cutting out the flowers, I sprayed them lightly with Peach Delight Glimmer Mist. I affixed them to the page and then cut along the edge of the paper so that only part of each flower is used.

On the left side of the paper, I added a strip of Bazzillion (brown side) to provide a base for some more decorations.

To go with my garden theme, I embossed the glass squares with butterflies. This technique is easy and fun. Simply stamp your image with VersaMark or Perfect Medium on the frosted side of the glass square. Emboss with clear Embossing powder as usual and you have the appearance of etched glass. To provide a frame, I covered each piece of glass with a piece of Florilicious with a window cut out. (I used Sizzix Frame, Slide Mounts & Coin Holder Die, but you could just as easily just cut out a square the size of the glass and then punch out a square or circle.) These were also glimmer misted so that they match the flowers on the page. I placed one at the top and one at the bottom of the brown strip. Flora Doodles Earthtone butterflies in between the glass squares complete the border.

A box from the Vicki B. Cut Outs provides the space for the page title. The title is created using letters from the sticker set. The Stop and Smell the Flowers message from the Vicki B. Cut outs reminded me of the lovely afternoon that I simply walked around Brisbane’s City Botanical Gardens.

A Set of Cards

I made this set of coordinated cards using the Vicki B. paper. Each card is similar in terms of basic design and theme but different papers, stamps and a variety of ribbons colors are used to make each unique. In my May 7th blog, I shared how to make the coordinating box for storing the cards.

For each card, you’ll need:
•A 8 ½” x 6” base (Any cardstock will work as the entire front of the card is covered. I used Bazzill white as it is easy to write on and provides a strong base for all the added items.)
•A 4 ¼” square from Perky
•A 4 ¼” x 6” rectangle from a coordinating pattern. (For my three cards, I used Stripes, Perky (floral side) and Vicki B. paper.)
Fold the base in half so that you have a 4 ½” x 6” card.

Affix 4 ¼” x 6” piece to the front of the base.

On the pink side of the Perky square, stamp a design with VersaMark or Perfect Medium. On each card, I used some variety of a stamps so that each card would be unique but still coordinate with the others and my box, which has a large butterfly design and a Flora Doodle butterfly. Since my butterflies were small I used several stamps on each card. Emboss the design with white embossing powder. Ink edges with Spun Sugar Distress Ink. Affix a ribbon horizontally across the square near the top. For my cards, I used a variety of colors – pink, green and orange. Affix rick rack down each side of the square.

Tie small bow with same ribbon as used on the square. Emboss a chipboard key with white embossing powder on both sides. Put two Tim Holtz Idea-ology jump rings together. Put one end of the jump ring chain through the top holes in the chipboard key and put the other end through a back loop of the bow. Affix bow to the card.

Select messages from Vicki B. Sticker sheet and attach. Alternatively, you could simply stamp messages on the card.

By using matching colors and papers, you can create a set of coordinated cards. Put them in a coordinated box and they make a great gift. (The instructions for the box were provided in my May 7, 2011 blog.) Using a variety of papers, stamps and embellishments you could make a unique set of cards specially designed for the recipient.For example, you could use the KaiserCraft buggy to decorate the box and decorate each card with the KaiserCraft diaper pins to make thank you cards for baby gifts or cards to enclose pictures to send to Grandma.